Starter-socket combination for fluorescent lamps



June 8, 1954 E. PETERS 2,680,839

STARTER-SOCKET COMBINATION FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS 7 Filed Aug. 14, 1951'Zezuas' Pei BY M m 7 QZ/as:

Patented June 8, 1954 STARTER-SOCKET COMBINATION FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPSLewis E. Peters, Beverly Shores,

Ind., assignor to Raymond M. Price & Associates, Inc., Chesterton, Ind.,a corporation of Indiana Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,775

4 Claims.

My invention is concerned with a new and improved socket assembly formounting a conventional thermal starter switch of a type familiarlyemployed with a fluorescent lamp or the like.

Briefly my socket assembly embodies a new and improved means forproviding positive contact with the connective terminals of afluorescent lamp starter switch or the like whereby a more compact andsimplified socket assembly is gained having particular application withconventional thermal starter switches utilized in applications offluorescent illumination in confined or restricted spaces.

The primary object of my invention is to demonstrate the features ofconstruction and operation of an improved fluorescent lamp startersocket assembly which is especially adapted for manufacture inrelatively miniature sizes.

A further object of my invention is to disclose a new and improvedelectrical contact means in my socket assembly for use with afluorescent starter switch, or the like, whereby positive contacting andlocking connection is provided with the connective terminals of such astarter switch.

To enable one familiar with the art to recognize more readily the aboveand further objects and features of my invention, reference will be madefrom time to time, in the following description of my invention to theacompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment employing the severalimproved features of my socket assembly.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view demonstrating the severalelements of my socket as sembly in dis-associated relation ready forassembly to receive the connective terminals of a fluorescent lampstarter switch also illustrated in this figure;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the socket cover shown in Figure 1, lookingat the inside thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view in side elevation of the socket covershown in Figure 2 taken .along a plane designated by line 3-3 of Figure2 and looking in the direction of the arrows therein;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the contact plates demonstrated inFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the contact plates shown inFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the socket base illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view in side elef vation of the socketbase shown in Figure 6, taken substantially along lines I, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

ll of that figure, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged, partial cross sectional, developed View takenalong the arcuate line designated by numerals B8 in Figure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows thereon and showing the relation of thecontact plate, socket cover, and socket base as they appear in assembledassociation with the fluorescent lamp starter switch locked therewith;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of my socket assembled with a thermalstarter switch and showing one means for mounting the same on asupporting surface or the like;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternativeconstruction of mystarter socket showing a mounting means therefor which is formedintegrally with the socket base; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 10 illustrating stillanother modification of my starter socket for accommodating a thirdmeans for mounting the same.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawings, it will be observed that mysocket assembly, indicated generally at IU therein, is to be used inmounting a conventional cylindrical thermal starter switch, indicatedgenerally at I l, and consists of the assembled combination of elementscomprising a socket cover member [2, a pair of contact plates l3, l3, 2,socket base member 14, a single connective screw means [5 (formaintaining the several elements of my socket in assembled combination)and a pair of electrical connective leads I6 for supplying electricalenergy to the contact plates of my socket assembly.

With particular reference to the socket cover I2, as illustrated inparticular in Figures 1-3 of the drawings, it will be recognized thatsuch is formed substantially as a short, cylindrical, tubular memberhaving an external diameter conforming to that of the starter H. Thecover member 12 is characterized by a cylindrical side wall 20 formedintegrally with a transversely extending upper end wall 2!. An axiallydisposed core post member 22 extends centrally inward,

in depending relation, from the upper wall 2!;

such being substantially cylindrical except for an outwardly projectinglocating key 23 which is disposed lengthwise along one side thereof. Acentral axial opening 24 is formed in post member 22 for the receptionof the mounting screw means [5, as will appear later herein. A pair ofoppositely directed arcuate key hole openings 25, 25 are formed in theupper or top wall H of the cover 12; each opening having an enlargedcircular portion 26 at one end and a reduced, elongated, curvilinearslot portion 21 communicating with and leading from the circular portion26. The two openings 25 are positioned on opposite sides of the corepost member 22 and a pair of inwardly raised pad members 28, 28 areformed on the inside face of the upper wall 21 to extend from oppositesides of core post 22 so as to communicate with the side walls 20 of thecover member 12. The pad members form a raised periphery aroundapproximately one-half the circumference of the circular portion 2'6 ofeach of the key hole openings 25, as seen in Figures 2 and 3 inparticular. Key hole openings 25, 25 are designed of a size suificientfor the inserted reception therein of terminals 29, 29 associated withthe thermal starter switch unit l l with each of the enlarged circularportions 26 of the two key hole openings receiving a circular footportion 3% of one of the terminals 29. The two re duced curvilinear slotportions 21 of the key hole openings 25 slidingly receive reducedcylindrical shank portions 3! of the terminal members 29, for purposesof which appear later herein. The entire cover member l2, as describedabove, preferably is formed as an integral unit by a suitable molding ordie operation to which Bakelite or a similar plastic material bearingthe necessary non-conductive properties is especially adapted andpreferred.

Referring now to the details of my contact plates l3, l3 as seenparticularly in Figures 1, d and of the drawings, it will be recognizedthat each comprises a curvilinear strip of metal, preferably copper or alike electrical conductor, formed substantially as a circular quadrantand of a size suitable for inserted reception within the cover member l2adjacent the two key hole openings 25 therein so as to lie on oppositesides of the core post 22. Each contact blade is provided with atransversely extending and upwardly raised ridge member 35, disposedacross its upper face 35 and intermediate the length of the bladeadjacent one semi-circular end portion 3'! so as to form a cammingsurface. Opposite end 3? of each blade, a downwardly extending earmember 38 is provided for soldered connection with an all electricalwire lead 16, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings. Theraised ridges 35, so provided on the two contact blade members, eachserve as a camming surface to lock the terminals 2d of the thermalswitch l l with the socket cover i2, as will be described more fullyhereinafter.

As shown in Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, the socket base member It"of my assembly is formed as a substantially cylindrical block having anupper reduced cylindrical neck portion fill at one end thereof; suchprojecting concentrically outward of an enlarged lower cylindrical skirtportion at of the base member. The base member is preferably die formedfrom Bakelite or a similar non-conductive material as with the socketcover member l2 heretofore described. Formed axially through the centerof the upper cylindrical neck portions 9.9, I have provided a centralcore opening 32 of a size and shape sufficient to receive the centraldepending core post member 22 of the cover l2 in the assembly of thebase member with the cover. It will be noted that a slotted enlargement43 extends along one side of the opening 42 for keyed engagement withthe raised locating key 23 formed on the socket cover core post 22. Theprovision of the key member 23 and the key opening 43 therefor, in thecover and base members respectively, insure against unwanted rotationalmovement of the cover member relative to the base member and serveproperly to locate and lock the outer cover in a desired position overthe base member in assembly.

It should be noted that while the external diameter of the base lowerskirt portion ll conforms with the outside cylindrical diameter of thesocket cover 12 and starter H, the outside diameter of the reduced neckportion at of the base is smaller than the internal diameter of thecavity bounded by the side wall 20 of the socket cover 12. In order toinsure a substantially close fit between the inside face of socket coverwall Zii and the neck portion 69 of the socket base, I have provided thebase neck with a plurality of longitudinally extending contact fingersM, herein shown as four in number and spaced at convenient intervals onthe external circumference of neck portion ie. Further, I have provideda pair of electrical conductor lead openings A5, 45 which extend throughboth the skirt and neck portions of the socket base Hi at opposite sidesthereof, as seen in Figures 6 and '2' in particular. Openings 45 arecircular as they pass through the skirt portion ii, but open laterallyoutward at one side near their upper ends at neck portion fill so as tocommunicate openingly with the side wall and the top of the latter witha substantially U-shaped plan contour. Formed coaxially with the centralopening d2 of the base neck member 49, I also have provided a smallcylindrical opening 6%; extending axially through the skirt portion all;such opening having an enlarged cylindrical portion ill at its lower endfor receiving the head of the holding screw means 55.

In combining the heretofore described elements of my socket combination,conductor leads 16 are soldered at one end to the ear members 38 of thetwo contact blade members I3 for electrical connection therewith. Thefree ends of the conductors is are then inserted through openings 45 inthe socket base member is and the two contact blade members it areinserted in the socket cover i2 so that the raised ridge 35 of each ofthe blades extends transversely and immediately below one of thecurvilinear slot portions 2'i of an associated key hole opening 25. Inthis position the upper face 36 of each blade member 13, at a pointadjacent the ear member 38 thereof, will lie against the exposed face ofthe adjacent and overlying pad member 28 formed internally of the socketcovers upper wall 2i. The socket base It is then assembled with thesocket cover by inserting the neck portion at thereof within the hollowinterior of the cover member 12 so that the key 23 on the depending corepost 22 of the latter member registers tightly with the locating opening43 in the neck portion at of the base. The cover and base of the socketare then tightly joined together by a single connective screw is whichis inserted through opening ll? of the socket base for threadingreception within the central axial opening 24 in the cover core post 22.

To mount a thermal starter unit 5 i in my socket assembly ill, it ismerely necessary to insert the prong terminals 29 thereof into the keyhole openings 25 in the top of the socket cover and lock the starterwith the socket assembly by a twisting action. In accomplishing thismounting engagement of the socket assembly and starter unit, theenlarged foot portions 39 of the starter terminals 19 are each receivedin one of the circular portions 26 of the key hole openings 25 formed inthe cover member, so that an associated shank portion 3| of each of theterminals 29 may move along one of the slotted portions 21 of theopenings 25 when the starter is axially rtated or twisted relative tothe socket assembly It. As will be recognized from the enlargeddeveloped sectional view of Figure 8, the twisting movement of thestarter causes the terminal foot members 30 to ride up onto the raisedridge members 35 of the contact blades, whereby each foot member issecurely wedged in between one of the ridges 35 and the undersurface ofthe socket cover top wall 2|. This wedging action not only insuresagainst unwanted rotational movement of the starter unit relative to thesocket, but also provides a positive contact between the starterterminals 29 and the contact blades I3 of my socket assembly.

In using my socket assembly with a starter unit I I it is oftennecessary to mount the same securely to insure against theirindiscriminate and undesired movement when in use with a fluorescenttube or the like, for this purpose, I have found particularly useful amounting means such as I have illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.As shown in this figure, I have utilized a resilient mounted clip memberwhich comprises essentially a rectangular strip of metal adapted forflexing arcuate movement about one end which is secured to a mountingsurface 5| by means of a screw member 52 or the like. The opposite end53 of the clip 5c is conveniently formed with a downward curvilinearshape to conform to the exterior cylindrical surface of the thermalswitch unit I I. The curved end 53 is disposed in an elevated angularrelation with respect to the end thereof which is fastened to thesupporting surface 5i to hold the starter and socket firmlytherebeneath. To insure against longitudinal axial movement of theassembled socket I0 and starter unit II, I further have provided a pairof concaved spaced apart pad members 54 and 55 suitably configured toreceive and conform with the cylindrical exterior of the socket assemblyand starter units III and l I respectively. It will be recognized thatpad 55 embraces one end of the starter unit or socket assembly dependingon which way the two units are positioned over the pad members 54 and55, to insure against longitudinal axial movement of the two assembledunits. It will then be recognized that by inserting the interconnectedsocket assembly and starter unit in an overlying relation on the padmembers 54 and 55 so that the curved end 53 of the clip member 5!!embraces the outer cylindrical side wall of starter unit II, asuccessful medium is provided for maintaining the starter and socketfirmly in place as desired.

Still another means of securing the starter and socket in a desiredlocation is illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings. As seen in thisfigure, a longitudinally extending ear 6B is formed integrally with thelower end of the socket base member I4 adjacent one side thereof. A hole6| is formed through the ear member 60 and a holding screw or the likeis then inserted through hole 6| to hold the socket assembly and starterunit mounted therein at a designated place on a supporting surface, suchas M, in a readily recognizable manner.

In Figure 11 a still further expedient is utilized to fasten the startersocket in place on supporting surface 5!. In the arrangement illustratedin this figure, a cylindrical lug B5 is formed integrally with thesocket base I4 to project outwardly from the lower face thereofintermediate its peripheral extremities. A right angular clip 66 havingtwo rectangular and transversely related arms 61 and E8 is then mountedto the lower face of the base I4 by inserting holding screw I5 through asuitable aperture formed in arm 6'! and tightening such against theadjacent face of the socket base I4 as illustrated. Lug 65 is alsoreceived through a registering aperture formed in clip arm 61 toproperly locate the clip 66 on the socket base. A holding screw or thelike is then inserted through aperture 69 in leg 8350f the clip forfastening the clip and attached socket I II to a supporting surface orthe like.

Having thus described the feature of my starter socket and three meansby which such may be secured against undesired movement, it will beappreciated that the compactness of its combination permits a startersocket of the character capable of coaxial registration with a standardfluorescent starter switch unit when mounting the latter in my socket.Such a feature emphasizes the advantage that the socket forms acylindrical continuation of the starter unit in assembling the twotogether so that such conveniently may be employed in lightinginstallations where the space limitations are of paramount importance.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which the featuresof my invention may appear, it readily will be appreciated that variouschanges, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.Therefore, I do not wish to be restricted to the particularly embodimentof my invention illustrated and described except as may appear in thefollowing appended claims.

I claim:

1. A socket assembly for mounting a thermal starter switch used with afluorescent lamp, comprising in combination, a cylindrical base memberof insulating material having a cylindrical neck portion and a pair ofapertures extending longitudinally therethrough for the passage of apair of electrical conductor leads, a pair of substantially planarcontact plate members supported on said base member at opposite sidesthereof and within the peripheral confines of said neck portion, each ofsaid contact plates being connected at one end to one of said electricalconductors; a cylindrical cover member, having a hollowed out interiorand an open bottom communicating therewith, said cover being mountedover the neck portion of said base and contact plates so as to encasesaid plates within its interior whereby the latter lie adjacentlybeneath one wall of said cover, said cover member having a pair ofspaced apart, arcuate key hole openings in its said one wall directlyover said plate members for the inserted reception therethrough ofconnective terminals associated with said starter switch, each of saidarcuate openings having an elongated reduced portion at one end thereoffor the sliding reception therealong of a reduced shank portion of oneof said terminals, and a camming surface formed on each of said contactplates and located transversely beneath and adjacent the closed ends ofthe reduced neck portion of said key hole openings to securely wedge andlock said switch terminals against the inside surface of said covers onewall.

2. In a socket assembly of the class described for mounting afluorescent lamp starter switch or the like, a socket base member ofinsulating material characterized by a cylindrical neck portion at oneend and an outwardly extending cylindrical skirt portion at its oppositeend, said base having a pair of spaced connective lead apertures formedlongitudinally and a central axial opening distinguished by a key wayformed along one side thereof; a tubular cylindrical cover member openat one end for the reception of said neck portion therein and having atransverse wall at its opposite end in which are formed a pair ofoppositely directed arcuate key hole openings, a central core postmember formed integrally with said covers transverse wall anddependingly associated centrally therefrom, a raised key formed alongone side of said post for mating reception in said key way, a singlescrew means axially insertable through said base for threaded connectionwith said core post to hold said cover in rigid association with saidbase, and a pair of substantially planar metal contact plate memberssupported by said neck portion, on opposite sides of said central axialopening therein, each of said plates being connected at one end to oneof said connective leads an upwardly inclined transversely extending camridge formed on one face of each of said plate members, each of saidplates being positioned directly adjacent one of said covers key holeopenings and so related thereto as to have the raised ridge thereonextending transversely across a reduced slotted portion of said one keyhole opening and adjacent the closed end thereof, whereby whenconnective post terminals of said starter switch are 8 inserted in saidkey hole openings and said switch is rotated axially relative to saidsocket to bring the terminals against the closed ends of the slottedportions of said key hole openings, whereby said ridges wedge saidterminals tightly against the transverse wall of said cover member.

3. A starter socket assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein an earmember is formed integrally with said base to project outwardlytherefrom and within the peripheral confines of said skirt portion, saidear having an aperture formed therethrough for receiving a mountingscrew means for securing said socket to a supporting surface.

4. A starter socket assemblw as set forth in claim 2 wherein a smallcylindrical locating lug is formed integrally with said base to projectout wardly from said opposite end thereof, said lug being locatedintermediate the peripheral confines of said skirt portion for engagingan opening in a right angular mounting bracket at said opposite end ofsaid base whereby said mounting bracket may be located by said lug andfastened to said base to provide means for connecting the same to asupporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

